Splash - November 2023

This splash photo was taken at Thanksgiving at my brother Eric's house.  We have been gathering there for years now, at least since we have moved to Maryland.  This year we have much to be grateful for.

This photo was taken on the back porch, after the fire they built in the backyard had died out and it was time for to come inside for pie.  They just happen to be standing in birth order here - from left to right, we have, Rachel (25), Samantha (24), Charlotte (20), Josephine (19) and JMichael (15).  Ezamay is right in front of the column and she just turned four last month.

Splash - August 2023

 

The August Splash was taken at church.  Look at these five in a row - from front to back, or left to right, we have Josephine (18), JMichael (15), Samantha (24), Rachel (25) and Charlotte (20).  If you look closely between Josephine and JMichael, you will see a little hand at about JMichael's elbow.  That is Ezamay (3), who was being very good but did not manage to make it into the photo.  My brother's wife was getting baptized and we all were there to support her.  And no, Josephine does not have a tattoo.

Splash - November 2022

 This Splash was taken at our new house!  This is moving day - everyone has been working hard and there are still boxes everywhere and no one can find anything yet - but we are in a new place.  This one is cozy; it's in town on a quiet street, close to stuff and still private.  We have a fireplace for the first time in my life - and the kids lives - and we are loving it.  Especially the shower - RAIN HEAD.  That is all.  Love it.  Love them.  November 2022.

Ezamay usually gets her own picture in the Splash.  But do you see her?  On the left.  We have Samantha, Ezamay, Rachel, JMichael, Josephine and Charlotte.  It was so cute to watch Ezamay help with the move.  She was all about it.  Picking up stuff and putting stuff away.  She calls Samantha Manfa and Rachel is Rae.  We love her.

COVID

James is not pictured on the blog enough.  It's about the kids, true, but, look at my handsome husband.  

I made him the pictures in this post because we had COVID together.  He is certain that we got it from a doordash customer who came to James' drivers side window to get his delivery instead of waiting for me to take it to his door.  I mean, he was politely walking over, he saved me a trip, but James believes that contact - which is not supposed to happen - transmitted COVID from the customer to James.

We took the kids to Tilghman for a Saturday afternoon picnic.  The September splash is the picture from that day.  We had fun.  Beautiful weather; great company; watermelon.

By the time we got home Saturday afternoon, James said I should take Charlotte dashing because he was not feeling well.  He went to bed.  I dashed.  On Sunday, he did not get out of bed all day; neither did I.  We stayed in our room, moaning and achy and miserable.  The kids all brought us food and asked it we were still living - from the threshold of the door only.  No closer.  No Ezamay.  Just COVID.

I texted Justin on Sunday evening and said I was not feeling good.  He said, you should get a COVID test.  We did.  We had it.  Ugh.  James and I spent the whole week in bed.  Days went by and we didn't pick up our phones, watch any tv or even eat.  The only time I felt alive was while a HOT shower was soothing my soul  It was more horrible than I can explain.  And I don't want to go there again anyway.

The second week at home was better, but hardly a good time.  We slowly regained the will to interact with each other, let alone the world at large.  I missed two full weeks of work and we missed two full weeks of dashing.  Once we felt like we could work again, it sure was necessary.

I remember early in the COVID experience I had remarked that we should all just contract it and build antibodies and get over it.  Oh how wrong that is.  It was the closest I think I've been to death and it was not anything I care to repeat.

Still, here we are.  Alive and healthy and over it.  The hard way.

COVID had a bit of unsuspected collateral damage - a move.  Since I was late paying our rent that month, due to my sudden lack of funds, our landlord decided that our "excuses" were too much for her and she evicted us.  We paid our rent - let the records show - with a late fee.  Still, she said get out.  So we did.  And now we are in a new place (by November) and better off.

Splash - September 2022

 

The September splash was taken at the end of the world.  That's what we call Tilghman Island, Maryland.  It's the end point of the road - after that it's just the Chesapeake Bay.  We like to hang out there and watch the boats go by or at night the stars are AMAZING.  No lights anywhere, just the calm lap of the water and the breeze of the currents.  And fishermen.  By day this place is great for fishing, 'cause we have seen some whoppers reeled in.  We had sandwiches and watermelon - your basic Ball Team picnic.

And here's Ezamay.  Eating herself some delicious watermelon - the last one we bought this season.  She will be three next month - so here she is rocking two.

Splash - August 2022

This splash was taken at our favorite beach - Slaughter Beach, Delaware.  It doesn't sound nice at all, does it?  It really isn't actually.  It's littered with the remains of horseshoe crabs, very rocky and accessed only by a walk through the dunes.  We love it because it is deserted.  We will occasionally see someone jogging or walking a dog, but, we have NEVER seen other beach goers there.  'Cause it's our beach.  Miles and miles of shoreline, no tourists, no little kids running in the sand.  Just the BallTeam and the seagulls (air-rats).

Right across the street for the parking area is a nature trail.  Out there in the marshes the Department of Natural Resources has built nests for the eagles and osprey.  You can see them with binoculars, set up from the trail.  After our day at the beach, we walked the nature trail.  As you can see from this photo, there is precious little traffic.  (I don't think there's even a convenience store in this little coastal town.)  We did some poses in the street - this one is Ezamay (two years old) and Josephine (17), mimicking Samantha, egging her on to pose for the cameras!

Splash - July 2022

Our July splash was intended to show patriotic support.  But, it's hot out here.

Still, Happy Birthday America.

And our sweet rascal.  Giving me the thumbs up (that's my tuft of grey hair in the front seat) as we cruise along the byways - Poppy is driving us.  She can say about three dozen sayings, knows tons of words and will sweetly say, you ok? if you say ow around her.  She sings, laughs and talks all day.  Well, not all day...girl has to have her cheese and juice.  She will be three in October, so here she is 33 months old.  How time flies.

Splash - June 2022

The splash for June 2022 is taken at Samantha's new apartment - she has a one bedroom place in Chestertown.  No air conditioning, rickety steps that make you questions your life choices and a cute red refrigerator.  She's got it all.  It's minutes by bike from her work, and steps from the walking trail through town.  Right on, Samantha.  And yes, JMichael is on crutches.  More on that, and Samantha's apartment, in other posts.

And here is Ezamay - do not be fooled by the mean mug - this girl wins hearts with her smile.  The other day, Charlotte and I were at the grocery store with Ezamay, who is walking along and holding the cart.  We turned a corner in the store, and passed another lady in the new aisle.  Ezamay turned to her mom, and said, loud and clear - she cute!  Charlotte and I laughed, but, I don't think the lady understood Ezamay or paid her any mind more than a smile.  But, to Charlotte and to me, Ezamay was expressing her opinion - she cute!

 

Splash - May 2022

I'm not one to complain, or maybe I am.  {I AM looking forward to being a cranky old lady....}  With COVID, and the big ladies living in different towns, and work schedules, and the price of gas, well, let's just say that's it's been a hard winter for the Ball Team.  But here they all are.  I talk to each of them everyday.  I know they each face challenges.  I know they will find a way.  They have each other.  This photo was taken at Grandmom's house, when we got together for Mother's day.  This crew made me a Mom, Charlotte made them aunts and uncles!  Just to catch you up, dear reader - they are, from left to right: Samantha (22), Charlotte (19), Josephine (17) and JMichael (14), with Rachel (24) seated in the front.

And Miss Rascal - Ezamay at two and a half.  She knows how to take al her clothes off.  She's starting to potty train and she will talk your ears off.  You won't have a clue what the story is about, but, boy, this girl can spin a yarn.  Here hers is with her Poppy.

Splash - November 2021

 

The November splash is just the kids on a Sunday afternoon - the weather is getting cooler and the big ladies came by for a quick visit.  This is our pre-football, being lazy look.  Aren't they getting big?

And Ezamay, who is two now.  She can say What the heck?  and What happened?  and Stop.  She also says, Bless you, thank you and welcome!  We adults are known to fake a sneeze just to hear her cute little bless you.

Ezamay - two years old!

Splash - June 2021

The June splash was just a quick formation on the front lawn.  Our neighbors tell me all the time how adorable our children are when they pose for photos.  I'm kidding.  It's covid; we don't talk to anyone.

:)

Splash - May 2021

Our May splash is taken in our side yard - a beautiful canopy by a maple tree provides shade for the bright pink azaleas against the house.  It's funny, because the kids will ask me what kind of plant this or that is.  I didn't realize, Dad, how I was soaking up your random knowledge - this is lariope, this is a spathyofelia.  {Spelling was not included in my lessons, sorry.}  Plants were very important to my Dad and to his parents - we were always in the garden.  I learned what was a weed and what was to be nurtured without even realizing that I was being taught.  So, yes, I'll tell you if it's an elm or an oak, thanks to Dad.  Happy Spring everyone!

 

Splash - April 2021

April's splash is always fun for me because we have a pre-set theme - an illusion.  You might think that in anticipation of what I know will be our photo, I would plan and research and plot.  But, sadly, no.  I usually wing it - after a quick google search for inspiration.  This camera trick is simple - it's all in the position and perspective.  These Snap'd crackers were not even open for this shot.  We put them safely back in the bin for work lunches - thank you for the prop, JT!

And for our money shot - Miss Ezamay....18 months old!

Full of sass and sweet as can be.

Splash - March 2021

 

For the March splash, I hit the Dollar Tree and I conscientiously chose the most masculine of all the St Patrick's Day accessories they offered.  When we were all together this month, I told them to wear green or orange and that I would provide the spirit of St Patrick.  So, I pulled out my bag of goodies, and I watched as each of the ladies chose an accessory and left JMichael with the frilly headband.  What did this thirteen year old little man do with that headband?  He ROCKED it.  That, dear reader, is a good husband and father in the making.

And Miss Ezamay.  This sweet beauty is now 16 months old.  Her loving gaze is directed at James - Pops - and she is modeling his new hat.

Betterton Beach at Sunset

As our kids get older, one thing we (we, as used here, means James and Tina) find ourselves having is more time together.  It's fun.  Somehow, it's more fun to act like a kid when you are decidedly not a kid, than it was sometimes when I was a kid.  I think this transition comes from, well, age.  I have less respect for authority but more respect for integrity; I am more comfortable in my own skin now, and I do agree with that old adage: youth is wasted on the young.

But, I digress....

We took Josephine to her friend Chelsea's house up where we used to live in Kent County.  When we dropped her off, it was just the two of us.  James said, hey, let's drive to the beach.  And, since we are the adults that we have to answer to, we decided, yes.  We drove over to the water.  It was beautiful.

The sun was about to dip under the horizon.  We are looking westerly here from the western shore of the eastern shore.

 

On the other side of the marina, the moon is rising in the east.

The water was quite still.

Our footprints leading away.

And here we are capturing the sun before it fades away.

(Betterton Beach, March 2021)

Random shot, out the back window, which is crazy - see how I lined up the tree and the pole - PERFECTLY - ????  Beasted, as JMichael would say.

Sunset over the graves and fields.  So serene and striking at the same time. 

Splash - February 2021

The February splash is just five kids on a couch.  I am always amazed at how big they get.  And how similar they look - Samantha and Josephine are like twins when they dress alike.  Rachel and Charlotte look alike and JMichael is right there with them.

And through all of the growth and change some facts remain the same - they will always hold their baby brother - even if he is as big as they are.

And truth be told, if I could write on the walls, I would.

{Charlotte, 18; Josephine 16; Samantha 21;

Rachel 22 and JMichael, 13}

And James, with Ezamay, popping in a for a photo bomb.

And, Miss Ezamay - giving momma a sweet kiss.

{16 months old}

Splash - January 2021

Good riddance to 2020.

"That is all I have to say about that." - Forest Gump

I was looking forward to 2020.  I mean, the number itself is very symmetrical.  And it's crazy divisible.  Plus, Christmas was on a Saturday; Valentine's Day was on a Friday.  The outlook was all roses.

Even the BallTeam had a big year - Samantha turned 21.  Charlotte turned 18.  Josephine turned 16.  JMichael turned 12.  Ezamay turned ONE.  And yes, Rachel turned 22 (and James and I turned 53), and that's great, but look at that - five out of eight had milestone birthdays in one year.  One very bad year that needed five more bright spots.  Take THAT, corona-virus. 

Here's that cute one year old....

She climbed up in the rocker all by herself.  Such a big lady.

951

This post is actually number 951.  We are close to One Thousand posts.  Oh my!  Any comments on what day I will post number 1,000?

Splash - December 2020

 

I know I usually put up the splash picture first when I post my monthly picture of my BallTeam, but, man, is this a great photo of Ezamay, or what?  Charlotte caught this beauty a few days before Christmas.  I just love that smile....she's a precocious one year old, so don't leave her unattended, but, she's sweeter than peach pie.

Our December splash - on Grandmom's front porch.  I just love that they have fun together.

Christmas 2020

Our sweet little tree.  I'm not one to decorate, so this is doing something.  One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is sitting out in the front room with our tree at night.  We talk about Christmas past and reconnect after a long year of duties.  It's a peaceful time.

And these five - our BallTeam.  Here we are on Ma's porch in Salisbury.  Our best Christmas gifts ever.  And more work than a new toaster.

The Brownie Bite had a big Christmas.  She was very entranced by the lights and packages.  She pulled at the ornaments, but, hey, you gotta learn, right?  Such a sweet and beautiful smile.  One year old.

Ma got the ladies mugs.  (Serendipitously, I had given Josephine a cappuccino mix I knew she wanted.)  They all had cappuccino in their mugs - the picture on their mugs is four young women, each with different hair and clothes, but, the caption says "We are more than just sisters.  We are like a really small gang."  Spot on, Ma. 

The BallTeam and its honorary captain, Ezamay.

Ma and her great-granddaughter, Ezamay.